Rule Number 5 in Subject Verb Agreement

Rule number 5 in subject-verb agreement is one of the most important rules in English grammar. This rule deals with collective nouns and how they affect the verb that follows them. A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, or things, such as a team, family, flock, or herd.

The rule states that when a collective noun is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb that follows it should be singular or plural, depending on the context. If the emphasis is on the group as a whole, then a singular verb should be used. However, if the emphasis is on the individual members of the group, then a plural verb should be used.

For example, consider the sentence « The team is winning the game. » In this case, the collective noun « team » is being used to refer to the group as a whole, and therefore a singular verb (« is winning ») is used. On the other hand, if we say « The team are arguing among themselves, » we are emphasizing the individual members of the team, and therefore a plural verb (« are arguing ») is used.

It`s important to note that some collective nouns, such as « police, » « cattle, » and « people, » are always treated as plural nouns, regardless of whether the emphasis is on the group or the individuals. For example, we say « The police are investigating the crime » rather than « The police is investigating the crime. »

In addition to collective nouns, there are also other subject-verb agreement rules that should be followed, such as making sure that the verb agrees in number with the subject, using singular verbs with singular pronouns, and using plural verbs with plural pronouns.

Overall, following rule number 5 in subject-verb agreement is crucial for ensuring clear and effective communication in written and spoken English. By paying attention to the context and emphasizing either the group or the individuals, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and easy to understand.